Buffalo Forums

Hi all.

I use a Linkstation Pro to backup the pcs on our home network.  A hard drive recently crashed on my PC.  After installing a new hard drive, loading windows, etc., I went to restore my PC's data off of my linkstation.   I could not get any of the data to "import" to Novastor.  After hours of frustration, reading websites etc., I finally reached Novastor Tech support and learned....believe it or not... Novastor is capable of backing up to a NAS device but cannot restore from a NAS device when the data has to be "imported" (look up what Novastor means by this, but essentially importing is required if your PC's hard disk fails).   Novastor's solution is for me to go down to best buy tonight, buy an external hard drive that connects to my PC via usb.  Then, copy all the data from my Linkstation to the hard drive.  Then I will be able to "import" the backup data and restore. 

So, bottom line is if you have a linkstation, do not use Novastor for backup.  If you ever do need to restore your data there will be a great deal of extra time and expense required.  The "backup solution" Buffalo Technology is selling is horrible. 

If you are shopping for a NAS for network backup, don't buy Buffalo Tech.  Take advice from a very disappointed user.

And, BTW, I spoke to Buffalo Tech Support.  All they could do was escalate the problem.  They did explain that it really wasn't their issue because it was a software issue.  They didn't seem to grasp that I purchased the software from BUffalo Tech, not Novastor.  I tried to use the analogy that if my steering wheel fell off and I complained to Ford, Ford wouldn't claim that the problem was with the steering wheel company and that Ford just builds the car.  They didn't seem to get it, though.

Well.. if you choose advance options and make the back up where there is a archive of files that you can browse and not a compress file you wouldn't have this issue. Google is a great source of information.

Also you didn't purchase the software from buffalo. They give you it as a gift for buying there product. Was there a option to add nova store for X amount. No. So that means you didn't purchase it. So ya understand the difference between the two.

Well...one of the advantages of decent backup software is to use compression is to minimize disk usage so you can have incremental or differntial copies of your backup within the constrains of your storage size.  Moreover, Novastar does not backup data in an archive form that one can browse with or without compression.  Google is a great source of information.

Buffalo gave me the software as a gift?????? Are you f'ing kidding me?  I must tell Ford that they should sell cars but give away the engine so that they have no responsibility for the performance of the engine.  What good is the Linkstation without the software that comes with it?  Buffalo sold me the Linkstation with backup software.  I would not have purchased it without the backup software.  I purchased what I thought was a backup solution for our home network and relied on Buffalo's expertise and information which stated that their product was designed as an effective backup SOLUTION.  I had no idea that Buffalo literally meant an effective backup solution but an almost unworkable restore solution. 

This is what Buffalo says about novastor's product Novabackup on its website.

"LinkStation Network Storage and Backup for Home and Small Office Networks

LinkStation network storage solutions are bundled with 5 free licenses of NovaBACKUP Professional, an easy to use backup solutions that automatically backs up your personal documents along with your favorite photos, music and important email files safely and securely. Back up PCs, notebooks and workstations."

It says Novabackup is "bundled"...not a GIFT!!!  It is part of the Linkstation product.  And it does not accomplish what it claims.  t is not an easy to use backup solution.  This terrible software has cost me hours and hours of time and I still have not recovered my data.  Tech support from Novastor is useless and Buffalo does not support the product at all.

So, joma90 do "ya" understand the difference between "bundled" and "gift"?

Holy Cow!  Buffalo has known about this problem since at least 2011!

I found the below on the forums.  As I am still glued to my PC trying to solve this. (see http://forums.buffalotech.com/index.php?topic=8187.0)


"Re: LinkStation Pro and NovaBACKUP
« Reply #3 on: September 04, 2011, 03:53:02 PM »
Quote
From what they are saying in the NovaStor forums, it sounds as if restoring or importing from a LinkStation Pro does not work.  The only way to restore is from a local hard drive, which is very surprising since the two products were bundled together.

Any ideas on how to resolve this issue?"


So, Buffalo has known about this problem for over three years and continues to sell (yes, SELL!) this crap software.  Why would they do this?  I know I will never purchase another Buffalo product.  This is just bad business practices from a lousy company.

So if novastor wont tell you then o well.. There are a set of commands you set in novastor backup to allow a full archive. Talked to them about it 4 or 5 years ago. If your going to use a back up use a great free one. http://www.cobiansoft.com/cobianbackup.htm or windows backup. Or manually do it.

Also Novastor says that because you don't buy it from them. Giving you software that's not the current version and you like it. Means you want support. Novastor wont support unless you on the latest version so you have to pay. They don't have to give you anything and people sell the units for the same price with out the software. Though you can download it with the S/N. Either way i know Novastor's rules and policies and they just said that to throw the heat off them. quoting you here "bundled with 5 free licenses of NovaBACKUP Professional". Not paid or comes with 5 licenses. But they clearly state 5 free licenses. Just saying.. Just saying. You know free is the same as gift... unless the world has change this.

Also using ford is a horrible comparison. Did buffalo make the software no... did ford build the engines ya.. You purchase a product that did what it was suppose to. Storage data or backups. Your data is there and the unit is working. Linkstation stores data... that's its purpose.. Novastor is an alternative backup they gave you. Clearly they are 2 different pieces of a pie. This isn't Buffalo's issue. Its Novastor's. Novastor made a secure way to make sure your data was not to be recover so easily. But its also a double edge sword apparently. If you are going to backup till your pc crashes you need to do a disaster recovery. A backup is not a recovery for a disaster. Its a backup for storage.

In all honesty, you choose to use novastor. Buffalo didn't tell you to though they did give you the software so if you dot have one you do now.. You could of used anything else. even manually do it but you choose novastor. A Nas is a Nas. Its simple as that. A back up software is a backup software. How you go about backing your stuff up. Is up to you. You cannot blame a company for things that are in your control. Novastor told you what to try. Have you tried it.

And yes using Novastor with the linkstation is a backup solution... Novastor not so much. consumer reviews are not great on it. Backup reviews are though they look at features and stuff. Consumers use it for a while and state how well it works and stuff. Google google google.